Sony details its new Concept for Android UI: near stock Lollipop with popular Sony apps
posted by Florin T.
/ Jul 22, 2015, 1:15 PM
According to Sony, the "Concept for Android" UI is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop, and offers a "stripped back, vanilla Android look and feel" that's enhanced with some of the most popular Sony features and apps.
Only 500 Xperia Z3 users in Sweden will be able to test Sony's new Android UI (by registering at the second source link below). However, Sony says that this first trial may lead to trials for other Xperia devices, in more countries.
Do you own an Xperia smartphone or tablet? If yes, what do you think about Sony's initiative to strip down its Android user interface?
Sony's new Concept for Android UI
sources: Sony, Sony Concept for Android UI registration
45 Comments
10. killerpollo
Posts: 89; Member since: May 15, 2015
looks just like stock android, what's to praise about that?...
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 1:44 PM 10
14. XperiaFanZone
Posts: 2277; Member since: Sep 21, 2012
So, stock Android doesn't look great?
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 2:04 PM 11
28. mafiaprinc3
Posts: 585; Member since: May 07, 2012
so it's safe to say yo have a horrible taste, I guess it's just your opinion but this looks better than stock android to me
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 7:35 PM 2
43. epdm2be
Posts: 816; Member since: Apr 20, 2012
He has no horrible taste. Just eyes in his head. The reason why (Im)Material Design looks awful is because most versions have no shadows under their flat icons to distinguish them from a (busy) background.
The only decent looking lollipop design is Samsung's S6 version only because of the soft shadow under their icons. The S5-version also is FUgly.
posted on Jul 24, 2015, 3:01 AM 0
45. killerpollo
Posts: 89; Member since: May 15, 2015
it does, what I mean is, why should we praise sony for this?, it's Google's design language not sony's....
posted on Jul 24, 2015, 10:46 AM 0
19. JAPANESEPATRIOT
Posts: 65; Member since: May 26, 2015
Finest Japanese tech, NOT cheap Chinese or Korean one.
That's more than enough
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 2:44 PM 2
26. Well-Manicured-Man
Posts: 663; Member since: Jun 16, 2015
I think it makes sense for Sony to stick closer to stock Android since Sony can save resources this way which would be necessary to maintain Sony's proprietary Android version.
However, I don't like the stock Android App symbols. I think they look so fragile. Nothing you really want to press on. Google should go for rather iOS-like symbols which surround the actual symbol with a box.
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 4:17 PM 8
40. Onami
Posts: 16; Member since: Mar 29, 2014
I agree, Google material design is only something good in the concept. Wasting too much usage user's space in the screen, Plain design is really something unpolished (somehow when comparing w Sony/HTC UI). The problem with Sony UI is lacking some convenient (lagging?) features.
Sr for my bad English.
posted on Jul 23, 2015, 4:56 AM 0
15. hboy857
Posts: 367; Member since: Jun 03, 2013
IMHO, this is the way to go. Sony should add useful features without f**king up the overall software design aesthetics. Their hardware design is excellent but software design is mixed up with various design approach. They should keep the popular Sony apps, remove the unnecessary bloatware and put more focus on the overall user experience.
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 2:07 PM 9
22. dazzmichael
Posts: 71; Member since: Sep 15, 2014
but they still need to get rid of the big icons, atleast give us an option to minimise them, Those are one of the reasons why i use launchers.
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 3:54 PM 0
23. Zylam
Posts: 1808; Member since: Oct 20, 2010
I will buy a Xperia in a heartbeat if Sony's new ui is 90%+ stock Android.
Thank you SONY!
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 3:58 PM 3
37. RajRicardo
Posts: 483; Member since: Feb 28, 2014
It already does. :|
posted on Jul 23, 2015, 1:04 AM 0
11. buccob
Posts: 2952; Member since: Jun 19, 2012
In my opinion, I am ok with the design being even closer to Stock, however I hope that the Added functionality that Sony has always brought to its UI is not removed...
I have ignored the Lollipop upgrade yet because of that reason... I don't want previous features to be removed.... and hopefully they keep the following, since I love and use daily:
- Small Apps
- Widget and Homescreen Management
- Close All button for Recent Apps
- Lock Screen widgets
- Smart Settings
- PS3 Controller Connectivity (I heard they start removing and keeping only PS4 controllers support)
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 1:48 PM 6
21. monoke
Posts: 1145; Member since: Mar 14, 2015
I'm still on kk too bro. I'll prob never update since I don't see any performance /battery improvement whatsoever and some features you've mentioned are gone or half assed. Update only if you want an uglier ui with fancy animations imo.
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 3:23 PM 1
31. buccob
Posts: 2952; Member since: Jun 19, 2012
My main motivation to update is the ability to install apps on the SD card... I am constantly running out of memory (I like saving my pictures to the internal memory) and would love to be able to install huge apps without a problem...
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 10:17 PM 1
13. TheGunnyPT
Posts: 252; Member since: Feb 12, 2015
Now, that's an amazing UI I would use.
Please do release the launcher of this. It looks amazing!
Best of both worlds ASOP with Xperia theme
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 1:59 PM 3
17. Bm888
Posts: 517; Member since: Jul 06, 2015
I am touchwiz inspired. .love it's functionality, waiting when tizen OS will mature for use at flagship level coz it's gonna be the killer OS due to its lightweight nature and in top of it the great touchwiz. .and "hullabaloos" of lag will be gone for good.
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 2:23 PM 0
18. Feanor
Posts: 1327; Member since: Jun 20, 2012
Fantastic! I actually installed the Google Now launcher to my Z2 to do exactly this and bring my interface closer to stock Android without loosing the added functionality like double tap to wake, always on screen when you look at it, small apps, etc. Wouldn't mind having it out of the box.
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 2:41 PM 0
24. vuyonc
Posts: 1089; Member since: Feb 24, 2014
As long as they can increase functionality and freedom. Their current theme engine has brought some sweet themes but need more depth. Matching icon packs will do the trick. Deeper camera controls. Newer Xperias deserve fully fledged multi window apps too. Sony apps need immersion mode. Ultra Stamina mode needs basic Web browsing and low power games (old school games like Snake or Tower of Hanoi).
posted on Jul 22, 2015, 4:00 PM 1
* Some comments have been hidden, because they don't meet the discussions rules.
